The Brown-Ecklin generator: Part 1

The Brown-Ecklin generator - A theoretical analysis

by W.D.Bauer released 14.12.96

Abstract:

A theoretical electromechanical model of Brown's generator is
simulated. It proves the possibility of overunity work efficiency confirming
Brown's measurements qualitatively. The energy balance of this machine
is discussed. Improvements of the models are proposed to fit the the model
closer to reality. The technology adapting this generators to today electrical
energy production and consumption is outlined.

1.Introduction

Today commercial production of alternative electric current
is restricted normally to synchronous and asyncronous generators with efficiencies
(=electrical work output / mechanical work input) lower than 1. The cause
of this restriction is the law of conservation of electric energy which
holds for this machines. According to Lenz's law the generated current
works against the mechanic force driving the generator.

Therefore, proposals have been made to avoid the Lenz law to enhance
efficiency. One of the oldest ideas known to the author is the Brown generator
[1]. Bedini et al. [2] build multiple variations of this generator and
claimed to have achieved succcessful overunity efficiency feedback of energy
to a motor driving the generator again. Further improvements of this technology
are announced as LIAG-generators by [3].

The most of this generators control the magnetic flux of a stationary
magnet through a stationary induction coil periodically by closing the
common magnetic circuit by a rotating piece of iron.

Because irreversibilities in constant magnetic fields have a gain
hysteresis of magnetic work according to our last theoretical work [4]
this generator seemed to be a good candidate for finding overunity efficiency
in theoretical calculation as well.

2. The Brown-Ecklin Generator

Brown [1] modified the design of the mechanical perpetuum mobile proposal
from Ecklin (5) see fig. 1, to make it useful for electric power generation.
Inspired by Kromrey's patent [6] he used a closed magnetic circuit. Contrary
to Kromrey(see part 3 this article, fig.13) he used a stationary coil as
energy output source. The test result of this generator build showed overunity
efficiency. Because the literature source is not easy available we reproduce
here the contents of his report as exact as possible and necessary.

Setup:
"To understand the mode of operation, it is the best to think of magnetism
as a fluid (much the same as in elecrical consideration), and iron is a
conductor of magnetism. When the poles of the rotor fill the gap, magnetism
flows through a closed circuit as indicated by arrows (in fig.2). This
flow sets up a magnetic field around the output coil. Now the rotor turns
90, the gap is opened and the magnetic field to collapse in the output
coil. It is this rising and falling field in the output coil that produce
electromotive force.
The actual of our test model incorporates four poles instead of two,
see fig.3 and fig.4. In the tested unit, we utilised transformer laminations
as the coil cores. The D.C. cores could be made of solid iron since there
is no magnetic reversal. The D.C cores were 6.5 inches in overall length
with .75 " by .75" cross section. The coil was wrapped with 100 turn per
layer and six layers for 600 turns of 18 gauge enameled copper wire. The
coil length was 4.5" overall. The A.C cores were indentical to the D.C.
cores with 1200 turns of 18 gauge enameled copper wire 100 turn per layer,
with taps at 400 and 800 turns. The rotor was 3 inches diameter by 6.5
inches long, with a 5/8" by 12" brass shaft.The test motor was a Bodine
Electric 1/10 hp., 500 rpm rated at 115V @ 1.6A. The measured current was
actually 1.9 Amps."
The dimensions of the generator are compiled in tab.1.

Test results:
"Our initial tests were run with a 0.5 hp motor. However we noticed
that energizing the field coils did not throw much of a load on the drive
motor. Next we matched a 1/10 hp motor to the generator and the results
are cited data (see tab.2). The reason for the minute horsepower required
by the generator is that there is no relative motion between the magnets
or the wires, and the magnetism requires time for propagation. The result
is that there is relatively no torque required to rotate the shaft. ...
Apparently the resistive torque on the shaft decreases with an increase
in rpm. The generator run cold, and a direct short on the output coils
did not throw a load on the drive motor.
A curious thing happened during testing. We discovered that a capacitor
shunted across the terminals of one of the coils (D.C. or A.C.) will provide
the necessary field excitation without any other outside source. The procedure
was to disconnect all leads to three of the coils and shunt the remaining
with a capacitor. Discharge the capacitor and then start the drive motor.
Initially there is nothing, but at 200 rpm, as the rotor comes up to speed,
the generator self excites (probably due to the residual magnetism in the
cores). Any attempt to draw power from the cap- coil results in shut down,
the same as the residual in contemporary generators. Yet, power can be
taken from the three remaining coils."

Typical data in the mode D.C. excited coils are compiled in tab.2
.

Tab.2: Test results of Brown's generator

field ex-

turns

400

400

800

800

1200

1200

citation

RPM

VOLTS

AMPS

VOLTS

AMPS

VOLTS

AMPS

1200

15.2

X

31.0

X

45.2

X

1.5 V

1800

23.5

X

44.5

X

72.2

X

0.4 A

2800

32.0

X

64.1

X

104.0

X

5000

31.2

0.19

58.2

X

89.5

X

1200

19.6

X

38.0

X

58.5

X

3.0 V

1800

24.0

X

50.4

X

76.5

X

0.8 A

2800

44.1

0.025

88.2

0.022

136.0

0.019

5000

50.0

0.30

96.0

0.12

156.0

X

12.0 V

1200

38.3

2.5

76.0

1.3

108.0

0.9

4.5 A

1800

55.0

1.9

104.0

0.8

160.0

0.65

coils in

2800

82.0

1.6

166.5

0.95

250.0

0.60

series

5000

72.4

1.7

148.2

0.85

220.0

0.50

12.0 V

1200

39.5

8.0

79.8

4.20

116.0

2.80

15.0 A

1800

57.5

6.0

114.0

3.05

134.0

2.1

coils in

2800

80.0

4.2

160.0

2.25

240.0*

1.8*

parallel

5000

96.0

1.4

180.0

0.65

265.0

0.85

12.0 V

1200

84.0

1.0

168.0

0.75

254..0

0.45

4.5 A

1800

120.0

1.45

250.0

0.80

340.0

0.5

Coils in

2800

176.0

1.3

175.0

0.70

550.0

0.56

series

5000

150.0

0.5

230.0

0.65

320.0

0.85

* this was the most effective run

"At 2800 rpm with the field coils coils in parallel, and drawing 180
watts (12V @ 15 amps) of power, the total input power was 399 watts (the
motor drew 1.9 amps @ 115 volts for a total of 219 watts during testing).
From this test the generator output was 240 volts @ 1.8 amps for a total
output of 432 watts. Assuming the motor was 100% efficient in converting
the input power into mechanical energy, we can calculate the rough efficiency
of the generator:

A more realistic assumption for the efficiency of the motor is 75 %.
. A more precise calculation is

In the self excited model mode the efficiency could be improved further:
"Performance data for two output coils in series, was 490 volts at
1.2 amps for an output of 588 watts wit the only input power being the
of the drive motor (115V @ 1.9 amps or 219 watts). Now lets assume the
motor to be 100% efficient and calculate the efficiency of the self excited
generator:

A rod magnet 5 is drawn periodically back and forth by switching
on and off the magnetic field between the two horseshoe magnets 3 and 1
using two parallel rotating pieces of iron 27 and 29 closing and opening
the magnetic flux circuit of each horseshoe magnet 3 and 1. The rotor irons
are mounted on an axis 31 which is driven by a motor 33. The oscillating
rod magnet 5 is put to springs 15,17,19,21 to prevent clamping to the horseshoe
poles and to redraw it into the middle if the magnetic fluxes are closed
by the rotating irons. This transistor for magnetic flux gives off the
gain of mechanical work to a flyweel 13 by the connections parts 7 and
11 .

Fig.2: principal setup of the Brown-Ecklin generator:

By two parallel rotating irons bars a magnetic cycle is closed
and opened periodically. One half of the cycle contains the magnet for
excitation. The other half contains a coil which allows to convert the
fluctuation of magnetic flux into electric work.